Speech system, extension communication terminal, and method of up-loading data for communication system

ABSTRACT

A telephone system requiring no upload of station data which is reset or set after a seat change even if the station data is not uploaded to a data management equipment whenever the operation change the station data of an extension communication terminal. Each of the extension communication terminals judges, on receiving a seat-change instruction, whether or not its station data is changed. If the station data is judged to be changed, the station data is uploaded to the data management equipment through a switching system.

TECHNICAL BACKGROUND

This invention relates to up-load technology for uploading station datain a telephone system, more particular a dealing telephone system,comprising a plurality of extension communication terminals each havingstation data, a data management equipment for managing the station dataof the plurality of extension communication terminals, and a switchingsystem which connects the plurality of extension communication terminalsand data management equipment.

PRIOR ART

Telephone systems comprising private branch exchange (PBX) and aplurality of extension communication terminals which are accommodated inthe PBX are widely used in a work place and the like. Particularly, inwork places, such as banks or securities firms, where dealing work isperformed, so called dealing telephone systems are widely used whereinthe extension communication terminals themselves have station data thatallow dealers to select and to speak in an instant to a desired customerfrom among many customers, and the system is configured to providevarious services to the dealers being operators of the extensioncommunication terminals based on the station data.

Up until now there have been such dealing telephone systems as disclosedin Japanese Patent Application Publication No. Hei 4-61457 or JapanesePatent Application No. Hei 6-121035. In these dealing telephone systems,the station data of the plurality of extension communication terminalsaccommodated in the PBX were controlled as one batch, so a datamanagement equipment is connected to the plurality of extensioncommunication terminals via the PBX.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

In the conventional dealing telephone system, if a operator changesseats (the extension communication terminal being used), in order to usethe operating environment (extension number or station data) of theextension communication terminal before changing seats also at theextension communication terminal after changing seats, a seat-changeprocess is performed for the extension communication terminal afterchanging seats in accordance to the following procedure.

(1) First, the PBX is notified of the change in extension number, tochange the extension number of the extension communication terminalafter changing seats to the extension number that was used by theextension communication terminal before changing seats.

(2) Next, the changed extension number is sent to the data managementequipment, and station data for the extension communication terminalaccording to the changed extension number (the extension communicationterminal that was used before changing seats) is downloaded from thedata management equipment.

In the conventional dealing telephone system, if the station data of theextension communication terminal that was used before changing seats ischanged, and that changed data is not reflected in the data managementequipment, then the no-changed station data will be downloaded to theextension communication terminal after changing seats.

This problem can be dissolved if each time the station data of theextension communication terminal being used by the operator is changed,the operator uploads the changed station data to the data managementequipment. However, due to carelessness, the operator may forget toupload the changed station data. If the seat is changed in this kind ofsituation, the operator faces a problem of having to reset the stationdata at the extension communication terminal after the seat change. Inaddition, the operator also faces a problem of having to upload the setstation data to the data management equipment.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In consideration of the condition mentioned above, an object of thepresent invention is to provide a telephone system in which it is notnecessary to reset the station data or to upload the station data afterit has been reset when the operator changes seats, even though thestation data is not uploaded to the data management equipment each timethe station data for the extension communication terminal being used ischanged.

In order to solve the aforementioned problems, the present invention isa telephone system comprising a plurality of extension communicationterminals each having station data; a data management equipment whichmanages the station data of the plurality of the extension communicationterminals, and private branch exchange (PBX) which connects theplurality of extension communication terminals and data managementequipment; wherein:

the extension communication terminals comprise:

instruction receiving means for receiving seat changing instructions;

judgment means for judging whether or not its own station data has beenchanged, in accordance with seat-change instructions by the instructionreceiving means; and

upload means for uploading data to the data management equipment via thePBX if its own station data is judged by the judgment means to have beenchanged; and

the data management equipment comprises an update means for updatingstation data of the extension communication terminal which the datamanagement equipment itself manages in accordance with the station datauploaded from the extension communication terminal.

With the present invention, when the extension communication terminalreceives a seat-change instruction, the station data of its own isjudged automatically whether it has been changed or not, and if it hasbeen changed, that station data is uploaded to the data managementequipment.

Accordingly, for example, in a case where two operators switch seatssuch that they also switch extension communication terminals with eachother, if each operator entered a seat-change instruction at theextension communication terminal just using (before the seat change),when each operator changes the extension number at the extensioncommunication terminal after the seat change to the extension number ofthe extension communication terminal that was being used before the seatchange, and sends that extension number to the data managementequipment, it is possible to download from the data management equipmentthe latest station data for the extension communication terminal thatwas being used before the seat change.

In other words, after changing seats, the operator does not need toreset the station data and upload that station data, even though stationdata is not uploaded to the data management equipment each time thestation data of the extension communication terminal being used by theoperator is changed.

In the present invention, it is also possible to further provide acontrol means for dividing the own station data into a plurality ofblocks; and

to configure the judgment means to judge in block units, whether or notits own data has been changed on receiving seat-change instruction bythe instruction receiving means, and to configure the upload means toupload to the data management equipment, only the data that correspondsto the block or blocks of its own station data that have been judged tobe changed is uploaded, if its own data is judged by the judgment meansto have been changed.

In this case, when data from the extension communication terminal isuploaded to the data management equipment, the data management equipmentupdates with the uploaded data, only data corresponding to the uploadeddata of the station data of the extension communication terminal thatthe data management equipment itself manages.

In this way, since only the portion of station data of the extensioncommunication terminal that are actually changed are uploaded, it ispossible to reduce the time required for uploading, and to makeuploading more efficient.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of the dealing telephone system for whicha first embodiment of the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the panel for extension communicationterminals 2 ₁ to 2 _(n).

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the inside ofextension communication terminals 2 ₁ to 2 _(n).

FIG. 4 shows the data configuration of the station data.

FIG. 5 is a diagram which explains the block change (Y/N) table.

FIG. 6 is a diagram which explains the table of starting addresses foreach block.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart for explaining the station data change processwhich is performed for extension communication terminals 2 ₁ to 2 _(n).

FIG. 8 is a flowchart for explaining the seat-change process which isperformed for the dealing telephone system shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing the flow of data in the upload process.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing the flow of data in the download process.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

One embodiment of the present invention will be described below.

FIG. 1 is a schematic drawing of a dealing telephone system to which oneembodiment of the present invention is applied.

As shown in FIG. 1, the dealing telephone system of this embodimentcomprises a switching system 1, extension communication terminals 2 ₁ to2 _(n) which are connected to the switching system 1, and a datamanagement equipment 3, which is also connected to the switching system1.

First, the switching system 1 will be explained.

The switching system 1 comprises a switch (SW) 11 which switches thetelephone(communication) path, dedicated-line circuits (DLIN) 12 ₁ to 12_(n), which accommodate extension communication terminals 2 ₁ to 2 _(n)and connect them to the switch 11, trunks (TRK) 13 ₁ to 13 _(m), whichaccommodate central office lines, hotlines, and branch lines, andconnect them to the switch 11, a terminal adapter (TA) 15, which isconnected to the data management equipment 3, I interface line (ILIN)circuit 14 for connecting the data management equipment 3 to the switch11 via the terminal adapter 15, a central controller (CC) 16, and a mainmemory (MM) 17.

Here, the central controller 16, main memory 17, dedicated-line circuits12 ₁ to 12 _(n), trunks 13 ₁ to 13 _(m) and I interface extensioncircuit 14 are connected together via a control system bus 18. Moreover,the dedicated-line circuits 12 ₁ to 12 _(n), are connected to thecorresponding extension communication terminals 2 ₁ to 2 _(n) byconnection cable 4 for sending and receiving voice and call controlsignals. Furthermore, the I interface line circuit 14, terminal adapter15 and data management equipment 3 are connected by connection cable 19and connection cable 5, which send and receive data by the ISDNinterface.

The main memory 17 stores a program for performing services such asswitching, control data and station data.

The central controller 16 reads and executes the program stored in themain memory 17 to control the extension communication terminals 2 ₁ to 2_(n), which are accommodated in the switching system 1 and thecomponents of the switching system 1. In addition, it performs servicessuch as switching.

The switch 11 is placed under the control of the central controller 16,and performs switching such as connecting or disconnecting between thededicated-line circuits 12 ₁ to 12 _(n), trunks 13 ₁ to 13 _(m) and Iinterface-line circuit 14.

The dedicated-line circuits 12 ₁ to 12 _(n) are placed under the controlof the central controller 16, and control the sending and receiving ofsignals to or from the extension communication terminals 2 ₁ to 2 _(n)to which they are connected.

The trunks 13 ₁ to 13 _(m) are placed under the control of the centralcontroller 16, and control the receiving of signals from the centraloffice lines, hotlines or branch lines connected thereto, as well ascontrol the sending of signals to these central office lines, hotlinesor branch lines.

Next, the extension communication terminals 2 ₁ to 2 _(n) will beexplained.

The extension communication terminals 2 ₁ to 2 _(n) each contain stationdata, and are configured such that they are capable of supplying variousservices to the operator (dealer) using that station data. For example,it has a function that uses multiple line data (data such as linenumber, line name (for example customer's name), trunk identification,trunk circuit position, etc. of a target line), which are stored as partof the station data, to divide multiple line names over several pages tooutput to the display, or it has an outgoing or incoming call responsefunction which displays the operating state for any line of the multipleline data which it stores to support outgoing or incoming call for theselines. Moreover, by pre-registering function-key data as part of thestation data, it is possible to freely assign the reception of servicerequests that can be supplied by the extension communication terminals 2₁ to 2 _(n) to the function keys on the control panel (description willbe made later).

In this embodiment, function key data is pre-registered such that thereception of the request for starting the seat-change process programwhich will be described later is assigned to one of the function keys.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of the panel for the extensioncommunication terminals 2 ₁ to 2 _(n).

Here, reference numeral 2 a is the panel of the extension communicationterminal 2 ₁ to 2 _(n), reference numerals 301 and 302 are for the leftand right telephone handsets, respectively.

As shown in FIG. 2, the panel 2 a comprises a dial-key group 303 forreceiving dialed numbers, sound adjustment volume 304 a for adjustingthe received sound for the left handset 301, and sound adjustment volume304 b for adjusting the received sound for the right handset 302, aringer adjustment volume 305 for adjusting the ringer sound, a display306 for displaying the line names or the like of the plurality of linedata stored as part of the station data, function-key group 310, a FWDkey 309 a, and a BACK key 309 b.

Besides for receiving the input of dialing number, the dial-key group303 functions as data input means for receiving data input such as linedata or function-key data, which are registered as part of the stationdata.

Each of the function keys of the function-key group 310 can be assigned,by function-key data that is registered as part of the station data, toreceive requests for services such as the function for dividing the linenames over several pages to display on the display 306, or the functionfor displaying the operating status of the lines in connection with theplurality of line data on the display 306.

As mentioned above, in this embodiment, the reception of the request forstarting the seat-change process program which will be described lateris assigned to one of the function keys in the function-key group 310.In addition, the reception of the request for starting the station-datachange process program which will be described later is assigned toanother function key.

There is provided a display lamp for each of the function keys of thefunction-key group 310, making it possible to visually display thestatus of the functions assigned to the function keys.

The display 306 comprises a current-page display unit 306 a and ananother-page incoming-call display unit 306 b; the current-page displayunit 306 a divides the line names of the plurality of line dataregistered as part of the station data into several pages and displaysat K1 to K35 the line names contained in one of the several pages, andthe another-page incoming-call display unit 306 b displays at K36 to K40the line names contained in the pages other than the page displayed inthe current-page display unit 306 a and the lines specified by thecorresponding line names are having incoming calls, Both thecurrent-page display unit 306 a and the another-page incoming-calldisplay unit 306 b have line keys 307 a (all together they make up theline-key group 307) provided plurally, each corresponding to one of theline names K1 to K40 that are displayed on these display units, andwhich are used for selecting the corresponding lines, and display lamps308 a (all together they make up the display-lamp group 308) forvisually displaying the operating status of the corresponding lines.

The display 306 can display only the lines that are in the hold state,or can display the lines that are accommodated in the extensioncommunication terminals 2 ₁ to 2 _(n). Using function-key data that isregistered as part of the station data, it is possible to realize thisby assigning various page switching keys for switching the contents(page) displayed on the display 306 to one of the function keys of thefunction-key group 310.

The FWD key 309 a is a key for turning forward the pages displayed onthe current-page display unit 306 a in order, and the BACK key 309 b isa key for turning backward to the pages displayed on the current-pagedisplay unit 306 a in order.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram which shows the configuration on the inside ofthe extension communication terminals 2 ₁ to 2 _(n).

Here, the key-scan interface 311 scans the opening and closing of thekeys in the dial-key group 303, FWD key 309 a, BACK key 309 b, line-keygroup 307, or function-key group 310, and detects whether or not thekeys have been pressed.

The lamp driver 312 lights up each of the display lamps 308 a of thedisplay lamp group 308.

The VFD screen controller (hereafter, simply called the screencontroller) 313 drives and controls the display screen of the display306. The screen controller 313 has an image memory 313 a which storesgraphic data for displaying graphic characters such as alphabetic andnumeric characters, and based on the graphic data stored in the imagememory 313 a, it generates image data and output and displays thegenerated image data on the display 306.

The key-scan receiver 314 detects the pressed status of the touch panelon the display screen of the display 306.

The call control-message send/receive buffer 315 is a buffer for sendingor receiving call control messages to or from the switching system 1 viathe control channel 802. The control-message send/receive buffer 315 isconnected to a receiving circuit 315 a, which receives call controlmessages from the switching system 1 via the signal channel 802 of thebasic ISDN interface, and to a sending circuit 315 b, which sends callcontrol messages to the switching system 1 via the signal channel 802.

The left and right handsets 301, 302 are connected to the telephonechannel 801 via the telephone circuit 320.

The RAM 317 stores data which will be potentially changed. The RAM 317comprises a work area where the MPU 319 which will be described belowperforms work, a station data area where the station data are stored, atable area which stores the block change (Y/N) table for identifying inblock units the locations in the station data stored in the station dataarea that have been changed, and an area for storing extension numbersthat are assigned for that extension communication terminal.

Here, the station data and the block change (Y/N) table will beexplained.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the data configuration of the station data.

As shown in FIG. 4, the station data comprises individual data which theoperator can freely set for each extension communication terminal 2 ₁ to2 _(n), group data which is shared by a group of some of the extensioncommunication terminals, and common data which is common to all of theextension communication terminals. The function-key data and line datadescribed above are handled as individual data or group data.

FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining the block change (Y/N) table.

As shown in FIG. 5, the station data area of the RAM 317 is managed inblocks having a specified number of bits, and whether or not the stationdata has been changed is registered in the block change (Y/N) table inblock units.

The ROM 316 stores fixed data that do not change. The ROM 316 comprisesa program area for storing programs such as the call control program,seat-change process program, station-data-change process program andprograms for other services, and a table area, which stores the startingaddress table for each block having the starting addresses of each ofthe blocks in the station data area shown in the block change (Y/N)table that is stored in the table area of the RAM 317.

Here, the starting addresses table for each block will be explained.

FIG. 6 is a diagram which explains the table of starting addresses foreach block.

As shown in FIG. 6, starting addresses assigned for each datacorresponding to the block number of the blocks shown in the blockchange (Y/N) table are stored in the table of starting addresses foreach block.

The MPU 319 controls all of the component elements of the extensioncommunication terminals. In addition, by loading and executing thevarious programs stored in the ROM 316, it performs various servicessuch as the call control process, the seat-change process which will bedescribed below or the station-data change process.

The control system bus 318 connects the component elements of theextension communication terminals.

Next, the data management equipment 3 will be explained.

The data management equipment 3 centralizedly manages the station datathat each of the extension communication terminals 2 ₁ to 2 _(n) has.This data management equipment 3 is realized with an informationprocessing equipment such as a personal computer with a communicationfeature.

Many methods may be considered and any can be used as the method formanaging data, such as the method of managing the station data of theextension communication terminals 2 ₁ to 2 _(n) in units of extensioncommunication terminal or extension number, or the method ofhierarchically managing the station data of the extension communicationterminals 2 ₁ to 2 _(n) by dividing it into common data, group data andindividual data; in other words, individual data is managed in units ofextension communication terminal or extension number, group data ismanaged in group units of extension communication terminals or extensionnumbers, and common data is managed all together as one.

However, in order to make it possible to manage the station data of theextension communication terminals 2 ₁ to 2 _(n) for each block number ofthe blocks shown in the block change (Y/N) table described above, it isnecessary to prepare in advance a block correspondence table with regardto each of the extension communication terminals 2 ₁ to 2 _(n), whichshows the correspondence between the block numbers of the blocks shownin the block change (Y/N) table and the address (address in a memory inthe data management equipment 3) of the starting location for storingthe data of the block specified by that block number, and relate it withthe line number.

Next, FIG. 7 will be used to explain the process in the dealingtelephone system of this embodiment for changing the station data of theextension communication terminals 2 ₁ to 2 _(n).

FIG. 7 is a flowchart which explains the process for changing thestation data performed in the extension communication terminals 2 ₁ to 2_(n).

Execution of the flow is started when the station data change programstart request is entered from the function keys, and the MPU 319 loadsthe station data change program from the ROM 316 and execute it. Whenthis happens, the dial-key group 303 functions as the data input meansfor receiving the station data input. Moreover, a page which supportsregistration, change or deletion of the station data (line data,function-key data, etc.) is displayed an the display 306, andinstruction related to registration, change or deletion is received fromthe touch panel on the display 306 by way of the key-scan receiver 314.

First, the MPU 319 judges whether or not the instruction from theoperator is change or registration of station data (step S1). If theinstruction is change or registration, it watts for station data, suchas line data or function-key data, to be input, and then registers theinput data in the RAM 317, or, it changes part of the station datastored in the RAM 317, for example the station data that is displayed onthe display 306, to the station data that was input, (Step S2).

On the other hand, if the instruction from the operator is not a changeor registration of station data, then the instruction is judged whetheror not it is a deletion of station data (step S6). If it is a deletion,then for example, the station data displayed on the display 306 isdeleted from the RAM 317 (step S7).

Next, the MPU 319, based on the address of the registered, changed ordeleted station data and the starting address for each block shown inFIG. 6 that is stored in the ROM 316, finds the block number of thestation data stored in the RAM 317 that will actually be changed (stepS3). In addition it sets information indicating a change for thecalculated blook number of the block change (Y/N) table stored in theRAM 317.

The flow of this process ends when, for example, release from the startrequest for the station-data change process program is input.

Next, FIG. 8 will be used to explain the process in the dealingtelephone system of this embodiment for changing the extensioncommunication terminal 2 ₁ to 2 _(n) (seat change) used by the operator.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart which explains the seat-change process that isperformed in the dealing telephone system of this embodiment.

In the extension communication terminals 2 ₁ to 2 _(n), the MPU 319judges via the key-scan interface 311 whether or not the function key(seat-change key) of the function-key group 310, which has been assignedto receive the start request for the seat-change process program hasbeen pressed (step S11). If it has been pressed, the MPU 319 loads theseat-change program from the ROM 316, executes it and starts theseat-change process.

First, it references the block change (Y/N) table stored in the RAM 317,and searches for a block for which change information has been set (StepS12). It then judges whether or not there are blocks for which changeinformation has been set (step S13).

If there is a block for which change information has been set, then itreferences the starting addresses table for each block that is stored inthe ROM 316, and acquires the starting address which corresponds to theblock number of that block. Then it reads, from the RAM 316, datastarting from the acquired starting address up to the specified numberof bits for one block unit, and uploads the data to the data managementequipment 3 (step S14).

Next, the MPU 319 judges whether or not there are other blocks for whichchange information has been set (step S15). If there are any suchblocks, it returns to step 14 and repeats steps S14 and S15 until all ofthe blocks, for which change information has been set, have beenuploaded.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing the flow of data in the upload process.

As shown in FIG. 9, the upload process starts when the extensioncommunication terminals 2 ₁ to 2 _(n) send upload request information tothe switching system 1 via the corresponding dedicated-line circuits 12₁ to 12 _(n).

When the switching system 1 receives the upload request information, ittransfers that upload request information to the data managementequipment 3 via the I interface line circuit 14 and terminal adapter 15.

When the data management equipment 3 receives the upload requestinformation, it begins preparation for the upload, and after preparationis complete, it sends upload preparation complete information to theswitching system 1. When the switching system 1 receives the uploadpreparation complete information, it transfers that information to theexchange communication terminal 2 ₁ to 2 _(n) which sent the uploadrequest information.

When the MPU 319 of the exchange communication terminal 2 ₁ to 2 _(n),which sent the upload request information, receives the uploadpreparation complete information, first it sends in order upload blocknumber information (1), which indicates the block number of the blockfor which change information has been set and which was detected in stepS13, as well as upload data information (1), which is station data thathas been stored in that block, to the data management equipment 3 viathe switching system 1.

The data management equipment 3 receives this information and, with theuse of the block correspondence table that was prepared in advance, itsearches for the address (starting address for storing the block dataspecified by the aforementioned block number) in its own memory thatcorresponds to the block number indicated by the upload block numberinformation (1), and then writes the upload data information (1) to thedetected address.

Next, the MPU 319 sends in order the upload block number information (2)indicated by the block numbers of the other blocks for which changeinformation has been set and which were detected in step S15, and theupload data information (2), which is station data stored in thoseblocks, to the data management equipment 3 via the switching system 1.

The data management equipment 3 receives this information and, with theuse of the block correspondence table that was prepared in advance, itsearches for the address (starting address for storing the block dataspecified by the aforementioned block number) in its own memory thatcorresponds to the block number indicated by the upload block numberinformation (2), and then writes the upload data information (2) to thedetected address.

Step S15 is repeated until no more blocks for which change informationhas been set are detected, then after uploading all of the blocks forwhich change information has been set, the data management equipment 3sends upload complete information via the switching system 1 to theextension communication terminals 2 ₁ to 2 _(n) for which uploading wasperformed, and ends the upload process.

After uploading, for all of the blocks for which change information hasbeen set, is finished, the MPU 319 clears all of the information in theblock change (Y/N) table stored in the RAM 317, and the process goes tostep S17.

On the other hand, in step 13, if it was determined that there were noblocks for which change information had been set, steps S14 to S16 arenot performed, or in other words, station data are not uploaded, and theprocess goes directly to step S17.

In step S17, the MPU 319 deletes the extension numbers that are assignedfor that extension communication terminal from the RAM 317, and thensends deleted extension number information to the switching system 1.The switching system 1 receives it and sets the accommodation state ofthe received extension numbers as not-accommodated.

Next, the MPU 319 waits for new extension numbers to be input todial-key group 303 via the key-scan interface 311. After the newextension numbers have been entered, the MPU 319 sends the new extensionnumber information to the switching system 1 (step S18).

The switching system 1 receives it and checks the status of the newlyreceived extension number (for example whether or not they are busy orin use, etc.) and judges whether or not changing seats is possible(possible to change to a new extension number) (step S19). If it ispossible to change seats, the switching system 1 sends the extensionnumber change information to the extension communication terminals 2 ₁to 2 _(n) which sent the new extension number information. On the otherhand, if changing seats is not possible, it sends error information tothe extension communication terminals 2 ₁ to 2 _(n) which sent the newextension number information. When the extension communication terminals2 ₁ to 2 _(n) receive the error information, the process returns to stepS18 and the extension communication terminals 2 ₁ to 2 _(n) wait againfor new extension numbers to be input.

The MPU 319 of an extension communication terminal 2 ₁ to 2 _(n) thatreceives the extension number change information, writes the newextension number information that was input in step S18, to the RAM 317,and the central controller 16 of the switching system 1 recognizes thatthe extension number has been changed and overwrites the extensionnumber assignment for the accommodation position of the extensioncommunication terminal 2 ₁ to 2 _(n), which changed the extension numberin the station data of the main memory 17, with the new extension number(step S20),

Then the MPU 319 downloads the station data (station data of theextension communication terminal with that extension number before theseat change) for the new extension number from the data managementequipment 3 (step S21).

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing the flow of data in the download process.

As shown in FIG. 10, the download process starts when first, theextension communication terminal 2 ₁ to 2 _(n) which will perform thedownload procedure, sends download request information to the switchingsystem 1 via the corresponding dedicated-line circuit 12 ₁ to 12 _(n).

When the switching system 1 receives the download request information,it transfers the download request information to the data managementequipment 3 via the I interface circuit 14 and terminal adapter 15.

When the data management equipment 3 receives the download requestinformation, it starts preparation for the download, and afterpreparation is complete, it sends download preparation completeinformation to the switching system 1. When the switching system 1receives the download preparation complete information, it transfers itto the extension communication terminal 2 ₁ to 2 _(n) that sent thedownload request information.

Next, the data management equipment 3 searches from its own memory forstation data that corresponds to the new extension number (station dataof the extension communication terminal with that extension numberbefore the seat change), and based on the address in the memory of thesearched station data, it uses the block correspondence table describedabove, to search for block numbers that are supposed to be assigned whendividing the station data into multiple blocks. It then sends all of thedownload block information indicative of the searched block numbers, andthe download data information, which is block data (data starting fromthe address of that block number up to the specified bit that makes oneblock unit) that is specified by the block numbers.

Then the data management equipment 3 sends download complete informationto the extension communication terminal 2 ₁ to 2 _(n) which sent thedownload request information.

On the other hand, when the MPU 319 of the extension communicationterminal 2 ₁ to 2 _(n), which sent the download request information,receives the download preparation complete information, it then waitsfor the download block information and download data information to besent from the data management equipment 3.

When the MPU 319 receives the download block information (1), itsearches from the starting addresses table for each block, which isstored in the ROM 316, for the address which corresponds to the blockinformation specified by the download block information, and then storesthe download data information (1), which is sent next, in the searchedaddress. This process is performed for all of the blocks, and then afterreceiving the download end information, the MPU 319 performs the resetprocess. By doing so, the extension communication terminals 2 ₁ to 2_(n) become capable of using the new extension numbers.

In this embodiment, when an extension communication terminals 2 ₁ to 2_(n) receives a seat-change instruction from the function key, itautomatically judges whether or not its own station data has changed,and if it has changed, then it uploads the station data to the datamanagement equipment 3.

If two operators, for example, change seats such that they changeextension communication terminals 2 ₁ to 2 _(n) with each other, by bothof them just entering a seat-change instruction in the extensioncommunication terminal being used (before the seat change), theextension number at the extension communication terminal after the seatchange changes to the extension number of the extension communicationterminal that was used before the seat change, and by sending thatextension number to the data management equipment 3, it is possible todownload from the data management equipment 3 the latest station datafor the extension communication terminal that was being used before theseat change.

In other words, even if an operator does not upload the station data tothe data management equipment 3 each time the operator changes thestation data of the extension communication terminal being used, it isnot necessary for the operator to reset the station data after changingseats or to upload the station data after it has been set.

Moreover, an extension communication terminal 2 ₁ to 2 _(n) divides itsown station data into blocks and has a block change (Y/N) table formanaging whether or not to change the station data, and it judges inblock units whether or not its own station data has been changed. Inaddition, it uploads to the data management equipment 3 only datacorresponding to the blocks of station data that are judged to have beenchanged.

According to such a procedure, since it is possible to upload only thepart that has actually been changed, it is possible to reduce the uploadtime and to perform the upload more efficiently.

The present invention is not limited to the embodiment described above,but can be modified in various way within the range of the abovecontents.

For example, in the flowcharts shown in FIG. 7 and FIG. 8, it ispossible to display the contents of the processes executed by anextension communication terminal on the display of that extensioncommunication terminal, making it easier for the operator of theextension communication terminal to know the processing status.

Moreover, in the embodiment described above, when changing seats, onlythe station data (block data) that has actually been changed isuploaded, however, it is possible to upload the entire station data whenchanges are added to the station data.

Furthermore, the embodiment above was explained in the case of beingapplied to a dealing telephone system, however, the present invention isnot limited to this. The present invention can be applied to varioustelephone systems wherein the extension communications terminals havestation data.

As explained above, according to the present invention, it is notnecessary for an operator to reset the station data after changing seatsor to upload the station data after it has been set, even if theoperator does not upload the station data to the data managementequipment each time the operator changes the station data of theextension communication terminal being used.

What is claimed is:
 1. A telephone system comprising: a plurality ofextension communication terminals, each having station data including anextension number and an extension name; a data management equipment formanaging station data of said plurality of extension communicationterminals; and a switch which connects said plurality of extensioncommunication terminals and said data management equipment, wherein eachextension communication terminal comprises: data changing means forchanging station data of said extension communication terminal, storingmeans for storing change information, when the station data has beenchanged by said data changing means, instruction receiving means forreceiving seat-change instructions, judgment means for judging whethersaid station data has been changed by referring to the changeinformation in said storing means, when the seat-change instruction hasbeen received by said instruction receiving means, and upload means foruploading said station data to said data management equipment via saidswitch, when it is judged by said judgment means that said station datahas been changed, and wherein said data management equipment comprises:update means for updating, in accordance with said station data uploadedfrom said extension communication terminal, station data of theextension communication terminal being managed by the data managementequipment.
 2. The telephone system of claim 1, wherein said extensioncommunication terminal further comprises: change receiving means forreceiving changes to said extension number in correspondence to theseat-change instruction received by said instruction receiving means;and sending means for sending the changed extension number received bysaid change receiving means to said data management equipment via saidswitch, and wherein said data management equipment comprises: downloadmeans for downloading, via said switch, said station data of theextension communication terminal which corresponds to the changedextension number, that was sent from said extension communicationterminal, to said extension communication terminal, which sent thechanged extension number.
 3. The telephone system of claim 1, whereinsaid extension communication terminal further comprises: managementmeans for dividing said station data into blocks and managing saidblocks of station data, wherein said storing means stores the changeinformation in units of said blocks of station data, when said stationdata is changed by said data changing means, wherein said judgment meansjudges, in units of said blocks of station data, whether said stationdata has been changed, by referring, in units of said blocks of stationdata, the change data in said storing means, when the seat-changeinstruction is received by said instruction receiving means, whereinwhen said station data is judged to have been changed by said judgmentmeans, said upload means uploads to said data management equipment, viasaid switch, only the data which corresponds to the block of stationdata judged to have been changed, and wherein when data is uploaded fromsaid extension communication terminal, said data management equipmentupdates only data of the extension communication terminal that the datamanagement equipment manages, which corresponds to the uploaded data andwhich was judged by said judgment means to have been changed, to theupload data.
 4. An extension communication terminal having station dataincluding an extension number and an extension name, comprising: datachanging means for changing station data of said extension communicationterminal, storing means for storing change information, when the stationdata has been changed by said data changing means, instruction receivingmeans for receiving a seat-change instruction; judgment means forjudging whether said station data has been changed by referring to thechange information in said storing means, when the seat-changeinstruction is received by said instruction receiving means; and uploadmeans for uploading, via a switch which accommodates the extensioncommunication terminal, the station data, which has been judged by saidjudgment means to have been changed, to a data management equipment,which manages the station data of the extension communication terminalconnected to and accommodated by the switch.
 5. The extensioncommunication terminal of claim 4, further comprising: management meansfor dividing the station data into blocks and managing said blocks ofstation data, wherein said storing means stores the change informationin units of said blocks of station data, when the station data ischanged by said data changing means, wherein said judgment means judges,in units of said blocks of station data, whether the station data hasbeen changed by referring, in units of said blocks of station data, tothe change data in said storing means, when the seat-change instructionis received by said instruction receiving means, and wherein when thestation data is judged by said judgment means to have been changed, saidupload means uploads to said data management equipment via said switch,only data which corresponds to blocks of station data judged to havebeen changed.
 6. A data upload method for a telephone system whichincludes a plurality of extension communication terminals, each havingstation data including an extension number and an extension name, a datamanagement equipment for managing the station data of said plurality ofextension communication terminals, and a switch for connecting saidplurality of extension communication terminals and said data managementequipment, said method comprising: a first step in which said extensioncommunication terminal changes the station data; a second step in whichsaid extension communication terminal stores change information thereinwhen the station data is changed; a third step in which said extensioncommunication terminal judges whether the station data has been changedby referring to the change data in said storing means, when aseat-change instruction is received from an operator; a fourth step inwhich the extension communication terminal uploads the station data tosaid data management equipment via said switch when the station data isjudged to have been changed; and a fifth step in which said datamanagement equipment updates station data uploaded from said extensioncommunication terminal, station data of the extension communicationterminal which the data management equipment manages.